Desquamative inflammatory vaginitis. A case report

The differential diagnosis of noninfectious desquamative inflammatory vaginitis includes pemphigus vulgaris, erosive lichen planus and benign mucous membrane pemphigoid. A 32-year-old woman had persistent, noninfectious, erosive vaginitis and linear deposits of IgA in the vaginal epithelial basement membrane zone. The differential diagnosis should be expanded to include mucosal involvement by linear IgA disease, a cutaneous vesiculobullous disorder.     

Densitometric analysis of scans: important sources of artefact

Computed tomography (CT) research in psychiatry often relies on the assessment of minor structural changes. Recently, it has come to encompass changes in regional brain X-ray absorption density. The artefacts prone to be encountered in density measurements are reviewed, and illustrated by a series of studies carried out using a CT 1010 scanner. They are shown to be more important than hitherto assumed in the interpretation of CT scan research.     

Brain slices in radioligand binding assays: Quantification of opiate, benzodiazepines and beta-adrenergic ([H] CGP-12177) receptors

1. We have characterized and quantified specific binding of [³H]-flunitrazepam (FNZ: (benzodiazepine), [³H]-naloxone (NAL: (opiate) and [³h]cgp-12177(CGP: (beta-adrenergic) to thick slices (230–400 μm) of mouse and rat brain.

2. The binding sites are stereospecific, saturable and of high affinity. In all cases, the binding of the ligands is readily reversible and demonstrates the appropriate drug specificity.

3. In mouse brain [³H]-NAL binding is elevated by chronic treatment with naloxone (via capsules).

4. We have been unsuccessful in quantifying beta adrenoreceptors with the archetypal ligand [³H]-dihydroalprenolol (DHA). However, the use of [³H]-CGP 12177 enabled us to detect high-affinity beta adrenoreceptors in brain slices.

5. [³H]-CGP also permits the demonstration of rapid and reversible agonist-induced down-regulation (internalization) of beta binding sites.

6. We have been successful in quantifying beta adrenergic sites in single pineal glands of rat and hamster.     

The aluminum-formaldehyde (ALFA) histofluorescence method for improved visualization of catecholamines and indoleamines. 2. Model experiments

The fluorescence-promoting effects of sodium, magnesium and aluminum ions in the histochemical formaldehyde (FA) reaction with catecholamines and indoleamines have been studied in protein models. The positive effects of aluminum and magnesium salts on the monoamine fluorescence yields, seen in tissue, could partly be reproduced in a simple protein matrix. The fluorescence-promoting potency was greatest for aluminum, moderate for magnesium and small for sodium. The aluminum effect was markedly concentration-dependent, with an optimum at a concentration of 5-10 mM in the model solution. Optimum pH was around 3.8. Experiments with synthetic fluorophores indicate that the principal action of the metal ions is on the fluorescence properties of the monoamine fluorophores rather than on the yield of fluorophores in the reaction of the monoamines with FA. The presence of aluminum ions in the models thus causes both increases in the fluorescence efficiency of the fluorophores as well as changes in their spectral properties. The direct effects on the monoamine fluorophores cannot, however, account for all effects of the metal salts seen in tissue. It is suggested that aluminum and magnesium ions, in addition, can act as acid catalysts in the FA-monoamine reactions, and that the metal salts have a direct effect on the tissue environment, leading to a 'locking-in' of the intracellular monoamines.     

Familial clustering of neural tube defects and gastric cancer

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to determine whether producing an offspring with a neural tube defect (NTD) is associated with the development of unusual patterns of cancer among the parents in subsequent years. Mothers and fathers who had a child with an NTD in Upstate New York from 1945 to 1955 were followed through 1979 and compared to a control group of parents with normal offspring. Overall mortality and site-specific cancer incidence were not significantly different for case parents versus control parents, with the exception of gastric cancer, which occurred significantly more frequently in case parents. The finding of a familial association between NTDs and gastric cancer, coupled with a parallel decline in rates of these two diseases, suggests a common aetiology, perhaps related to dietary factors.     

Crossover study of the pharmacokinetics of ceftriaxone administered intravenously or intramuscularly to healthy volunteers.

The pharmacokinetics of ceftriaxone were investigated in six healthy adults. One-gram doses were administered either intramuscularly or intravenously in a crossover design study. Mean peak ceftriaxone concentrations in plasma of 79.2 and 123.2 micrograms/ml were achieved with intramuscular injection and intravenous infusion, respectively, with plasma half-lives of 5.4 and 5.8 h. The urinary recovery of ceftriaxone in the first 24 h was 37% after intravenous infusion and 25% after intramuscular injection.     

Diagnostic clinical findings of a new syndrome with night blindness, maculopathy, and enhanced S cone sensitivity

We studied eight patients who had night blindness, maculopathy (often cystoid), degenerative changes in the region of the vascular arcades, relatively mild visual field loss, and an unusual but characteristic electroretinogram. The dark-adapted electroretinogram showed no response to low-intensity stimuli that normally activate the rods, but large, slow responses to high-intensity stimuli. These large, slow waveforms persisted without change under light adaptation, and showed a striking mismatch to photopically balanced short and long wavelength stimuli (with sensitivity much greater to short than long wave-lengths). Since there is evidence from other studies that the electroretinogram and psychophysical responses represent hypersensitivity of short wavelength-sensitive (S or blue) cones, we propose that this disorder be called the enhanced S cone syndrome. There can be different degrees of severity in this syndrome, and progression appears to be slow.